Tower for electric lighting



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. D. MAXWELL. TOWER FOR ELEGTRIO LIGHTING.

No. 434,639. Patented Aug. 19,1890.

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' D. MAXWELL.

TOWER FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

1N VEW TO'R m noun nuns cm, mum-mac IMMIIG'IOI, 04 c 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

232 44 .flllarney. 1

(No Model.)

D. MAXWELL.

TOWER FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

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No. 434,639. Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

(No Model.) 5 8heets-$heet 5.

D. MAXWELL. TOWER FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTING. No. 434,639. Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

- view of one of the collars surrounding the tail in elevation showing the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAvID MAXWELL, o F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TOWER FOR ELECTRIC L IGHTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,639, dated August 19, 1890.

Application filed March 8, 1890.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID MAXWELL, a ci tizen of the United Statcs,residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented accrtain new and useful Improvement in Towers for Electric Lighting; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in towers,and more particularly in towers for electric lighting, my object being to provide a superior tower of economical and tasteful construction.

It consists, therefore, of the combinations of devices and appliances hereinafter more fully specified andclaimed, and illustrated also in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tower embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the collars and its connected struts with their horizontal braces. Fig. 3 is a view in detail of one of the struts, showing the engagement of the horizontal win g-braces therewith. Fig. 4 is a view in detail of one of the struts, showing the engagement of the perpendicular outside rods and the diagonal braces therewith. Fig. 5 is a separate plan central tube or column. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tower in side elcvation. Fig. 7 is a. detail view of the central tube, showing the engagement of the weight and operating-cable therewith. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the lamp-supporting arms and adjacent parts, showing parts in vertical section. Fig. 9 is a plan View of the cap at the top of the tripod. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing one of the platform-arms and its end connections. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the platform. Fig. 12 is a detail view in section showing the engagement of the legs with the angular foot-plate. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the foot plate. Fig. 14. is a dcmcthod of connecting the guy-ropes upon the central column. Fig. 15 is a plan view of one of the bands with which the guy-ropes are conneetcd. Fig. 16 is a view in horizontal secncr ends with a collar 0,

Serial 1%. 343,094. (No model.)

tion on the line .2 .2, Fig. 8, showing the lamp supporting arms in plan. Fig. 17 isa plan view in detail of the band at the top of the head-casting, looking from beneath. Fig. 18 is a detail view illustrating the lampconnection to complete the circuit. Fig. 19 illustrates a modification thereof. Fig. 20 illustrates the modification of the lamp-connection enlarged. Fig. 21 is axdetail view show ing one of the lam psupporting arms and insulated pins connectedv therewith. Fig. 22 is a view of the same at right angles to Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a separate View of the lamp-frame. Fig. 24 is a plan view of the circular plate a Fig. 25 is a detail view to show the engagement of the legs with the central column.

Fig. 26 is a detail showing the bushing between the plates which unite the legs upon the central column, and Fig. 27 is a detail showing the method .of connecting the various portions of the central tube one with another.- Fig. 28 is a vertical section of the threaded collar W, and Fig. 29 a detail view of the plate a. i a

I carry out my invention as follows:

A represents a central tube or column, prefcrably made of extra strong lap -welded wrought-iron pipe, supported upon a tripod cmnposcd of legs A made of the same material, extra strong or double extra long, ongaged firmly at the foot in any suitable manner. The said legs at the base of the central column are engaged in a brace a. At the top of the legs I provide a circular 'plate a, (shown in detail in Fig. 9 with one or more intermediate binding-rings a?) and lower plates a". The tower is triangular in crossscction, as shown in Fig.2. i

B B [3 denote struts, engaged at their inengaged upon the central column and provided at their outer extremities with horizontal wing-braces B connecting said extremities. The outer ends of said struts respectively are also engaged with perpendicular bars or rods I) and with diagonal braces 1) D"*, said diagonal braces respectively extending the one upward and the other downward and engaging one of the collars C upon the central column. Said collar I prefer to construct of an open band to surround the central column, the extremities of the band being provided with a con- :necting clampingbolt c. The band is also constructed with clevisarms c, and prefer ably with one or more set screws o The inner extremities of the struts are engaged in said clevis-arins c by a bolt 0. By engaging the strutin the center of the'clevis-arms, as shown in Fig. 6, the upward and downward diagonal braces may be also connected with said arms, the one above and the other below the connection of the strut therewith. At their outer extremities the struts are each provided with ears or shoulders I) Z with which the horizontal braces B are engaged, as by a bolt U The outer extremity of each strut is also forked to engage the perpendicular bar or rod 1), which is united therewith byabolt From one set of struts to another verticallyI call a section. The horizontal braces may be engaged with the struts at every other section, except at the base and summit of the tower, where I prefer to connect the struts of each section with horizontal braces to give greater firmness.

E denotes a platform provided with a suitable grating E and railing E Intermediate the lower struts, forming a part of the platform, suitable tubular arms I)" have a screwthreaded engagement with said collar 0. At their outer extremities said arms respectively have also a screw-threaded engagement with an angular pipe-fitting 1*)", said fittings being united by outer connecting-pipes E. The struts of the platform are preferably made longer than the other struts of the tower, and thereby spread the base of the bars 1), as shown in Fig. 1. At their extremities said struts are each provided with an angular clevis (2, (shown in Fig.10,) with the uppcrend of which the base of the said bars and also of the lower diagonal brace is bolted, as shown at c. From the lower end of said clevis a brace Fextends downwai d to the lower plate 11 From the extremities of the arms b pipebraces F extend downward to the first ring (1.".

.At the top of the tubular column I provide a series of lamp-su'pporting arms ll, preferably made of T-iron, having their extremities adjacent to said column suitably bent to form a perpendicular portion, as shown at ii, the horizontal portion of said arm beingcxtendcd outward beyond. the perpendicular bars I). A brace 11 may be employed beneath each of said arms to strengthen them, if desired.

To engage the supporting-arms upon the central column,1 provide a head-casting l, laving a screw-thrcadml engagement upon said column fora suitable distance, as shown. 'l.hishead-casting is etmstructed with annular peripheral recesses -2', to receive collars 01' bands I, clamped thereupon, as shown more fully in Fig. 16 at 1 To these collars l the perpendicular portion of the lam p-su pporting arms are bolted, as shown at 71.. The upper end of the head-casting is preferably made solid, as shown in Fig. 8, except as provided with recesses t, constructed. to receive pulleys J, which are joru-imlcd therein. At the 1 up the head-casting is provided with a grooved band or plate K, (shown in Fig. 17,) said plate grooved upon its under face to receive the upper extremities of the outside bars D. The upper extremities of said bars or braces are each flattened and provided with an eye to receive a king-bolt L, which has a screwthreaded engagement in the head-casting. ()ver allis a sheet-metal cap L for protection. The lamp-sum'iorting arms are braced horizontally by suitable braces ll, said braces being preferably bolted intermediate their ends to the adjacent. collar I. The outer extremities of the lamp-supporting arms are each provided with a pulley J, journaled thereupon.

M is a lamp-supporting cable, with which each lamp-supporting arm is provided, connected with the lamp M at one extremity and passed over said pulleys J and J. Its opposite extremity is connected with a weight N within the central tube. A casing M. and a cap M" protect the cable and pulleyJfrom the weather. Said weight is provided with an operating-cable N, connected with its upper and lower ends, and passed over a pulley l, journalcd in the foot of the head-casting above the weight and over a pulley P, journaled in a lower casting A, engaged with the central column at the foot thereof. Said lowcr casting is preferably curvcd,as shown,

and provided with an orifice, as at (17, for the passage of the operating-cable. It will thus be seen that a portion of the cable runs within the column and a portion thereof outside the column, whereby the weight'is readily operated to carry the lamps up or down, as desired. The outer portion of the cableI prefer to protect from the weather by acase I and the upper pulley by a sheetmctal cap I. The lower end of the weight may also be provided with a stem N to project through said lower casting when the weight is down, and may thus be engaged by a lock N to hold it securely. The casing I may be held in place by collars P, engaged about said casing, and about the central colun'in by set-screws, as shown in Fig. 7.

il denotes a lam p-frame, which l provide 'with guide-cables Q Q at the sides thereof. Said guidccablcs are secured at the upper ends to a crossajn'm Q upon the lamp-supporting arm. At the foot these cables are so cured to the platform of the tower. I prefer for this purpose to provide a casing Q", which may be engaged to the platform in any suit able manner. The casing may be provided with an eye (1 to f acilitatc its engagement to the platform. Within the casing is a spring q, a turn-buckle being engaged with said spring and with the cable. By means of the turn-bucl'le the cable can be tightened, as desired. In Fig. 23 I have shown one of the cables thusuinitcd to the turn-buckle and spring-casing to illustrate the method of at inching all said. guide-cables.

To hold. the lamp steady and. firm when raised to the top of the tower, I provide each of the cross-arms Q at their extremities with tubular casings q, through which the guidecables extend. The lower ends of these casings q may be narrowed or beveled, as shown in Fig. 23, to freely enter corresponding orifices in the lamp-frame, as at q. It will readily be seen that as so constructed the lamp will be heldvery rigid when drawn up to the top of the tower.

To etfectuall y close the electric circuit when the lamps are raisedinto position for lighting, any suitable means may be employed within the'scope of my invention. As shown herewith, the lamp-supporting arms are each provided with arms R R, Figs. 21 and 22, to support insulated connecting-pins R, said pins being provided with ametal casing R and intervening insulated material R. Binding screws '2' connect the terminals of the linewire 7* with the said pins. The pins are provided for convenience with a stem 1'", project ing through the casing. The casin g itself may be provided with.a connecting-arm T to unite it to the arm R. A shield 1" protects the adjacent parts from the weather. The arms R R are spread at their base, to carry the connecting insulated pins R clear of the lamp-supporting cable.

The lamp-frame, as shown in Fig. 18, may be provided at each side of the lamp with a spring-arm S, suitably united therewith to form firm contact with the pin R. In this event also the lamp-frame is provided with additional spring-actuated stems S, to receive the impact of the spring-arms S should they be sufficiently depressed in raising the lamp, and thus prevent jar to the lamp. As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the lamp-frameis provided with elongated spring-arms S each side the lainp, between which the connecting-pins R may enter to close the circuit. ltinding-posts q, Fig. 20, connect the terminals 5 of the lamp-circuit with said springs. The lamp frame is also provided with a supportingbracket arm Q, to center the hoisting-cable connected therewith.

To unite the adjacent portions of the central column, I provide a coupling A, having a screw-threaded engagement therewith, as shown in Fig. 27. The coupling is preferably run wholly upon one end of the tubing, so

that the two ends may abut each other. The

coupling is then run down to engage both. i

As shown in Fig. 25, the upper cap a, rings (1 and lower plate a" are united by connecting-rods aflsix rods being prefcrablycm ployed to give firmness to the structure. Between the said cap, rings, and plate I also prefer to provide the tube with suitable bushings A to support the said cap, rings, and plate in position, as shown in Fig. 26.

The cap a is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 9, consisting of a ring a, provided wit-h clevis-arms a" for engaging the adjacent struts and perforated to receive the upper ends of the legs and the center column and connecting-rods. The rings a are preferably made of irregular form, approaching a triangle, as shown'by the irregular dotted line in Fig. 9, perforated also to receive the central column legs and connectingrods. Fig. 24 showsin detail the lower plate a, perforated also to receive the legs, center column, and connecting-rods.

T represents the guy-tables, which are united to the center column by means of a clamping-collar T, Fig. 15, the open ends of said collar being united by a bolt T The said collar is provided with eyes at T for the engagement of the guy-cables therewith. At the base the legs of the tripod are provided with a lock-nut A", and are secured in an angle-plate U by means of lead or Babbitt metal, the said plate being recessed to receive the foot of said legs, as shown in Fig. 12. This angle-plate is united to a lower anchoriug-plate V by means of bolts V, ten bolts being preferably employed. The space between the angle-plate and the anchoringplate is filled with rubble masonr Above the cap a, I provide the central column with a threaded hub lV, flanged as shown at w, to to rest in a corresponding recess in the cap a, the periphery of the recess being indicated at the innerfnll-linecircle, Fig. 9. The hub is preferably'flmade open, flanges, as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 28, being provided, whereby it may be firmly clamped upon the collar. This hub is designed to rest upon said cap and afiord firmer support for the tube.

Any suitable provision may be made to ascend the tower, if desired.

The plate a is shown in vertical cross-section in Fig. 29.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a trussed lower, a central tube or column supported upon a tripod, consisting of legs, and having, in combination therewith, a plate a, a cap (1., rings a and plate a, uniting said legs to said column, substantially as described.

2. In a triangular tower, the combination, with a central tube or column, of perpendiclb lar bars D, struts and braces uniting saidbars to the central column, a supporting-tripod united to said column, and a head-casting located upon said column, said perpendicular bars spread at their base and united with said head-casting at the top, substantially as described.

3. In a tower, a. central tube or column supported upon a tripod, consisting of legs, connecting devices located at the upper extremities of said legs uniting the legs with the column, perpendicular bars I), united with said column by struts and braces, and braces run from the lower struts to said connecting devices. subsiantiall y as described.

4. In a trussed tower, a central column supported upon a tripod, an angleplate cngaging the feet of the tripod, anihan anchoringplate engaged with said angle-plate, substan tiall y as described.

5. In a trussed tower,acentral column, a supporting-tripod, and connecting devices uniting said tripod with said column, the central column provided with bushing to support the connectingdevices,substan tiallyasdese ribed,

6. In a trussed tower, a central column, a supporting-tripod, connecting devices located at the upper extremities of said legs uniting the tripod and column, and bolts or rods uniting said connecting devices, substantially as described.

7. In a trussed tower,a central tube or column provided with a weight located therein, a cable to operate said weight,a head-casting I and lower casting A engaged with said column, and pulleys journaled in said castings, over which said cable is engaged, substantially as described.

8. In a trussed tower, a central tube or column provided with a weight located therein, a head-castin g I and lower casting A, engaged with said column, pulleys journaled in said castings, and a cable engaged with said weight and over said pulleys, said weight provided with a stem N and said lower casting with an orifice to receive said stem, substantially as described.

9. In a trussed tower, a central tube or column provided with a weight, a cable connected with the extremities of the weight and extended outside said column at the foot and the head of said column, a casing P to protect said cable, and a device to support said casing, substantially as described.

10. In atower, a central tube or column provided with a weight, lamp-supporting arms engaged upon said column, lamp-supporting cables connected with independent lamps eugaged upon said arms and with said weight, and an operating-cable connected with said weight, the construction being such that the movement of the weight will raise and lower the individual lamps, substantially as described.

11. In atower, a central tube orcolumn provided with a weight, lamp-supporting arms engaged upon said column, lamp-supporting cables connected with independent lamps engaged upon said arms and with said weights,

and guide-cables to stead y thelamps, substantially as described.

12. In a tower, a central tube provided with a head-casting, lamp-supporting arms having a fixed engagement upon said casting, awcight located within the central tube, and lam p-su pporting cables engaged with said arms and weight, substantially as described.

13. In a tower, a central tube provided with a weight, a head-castin g engaged upon said tube, said tube recessed on its periphery and provided with encircling-bands I, and lampsupporting arms engaged with said bands, substantially as described.

14. In a tower, a central tube provided with a head-casting and an interior weight, lampsupporting arms engaged upon said casting,

pulleys journaled in said casting and upon said arms, and lamp-supporting cables eugaged over said pulleys and connected with said weight, substantially as described.

15. Ina tower, a central tube provided with a weight and lamp-supporting arms, a cable connecting independent lamps with said weight, and guide-cables to steady the lamps, said arms provided with casings g sleeved upon said cables, substantially as described.

16. In a tower, a central tube provided with a weight and with lamp-supporting arms, a cable engaged upon said arms connecting independent lamps with the weight, and guidecables to steady the lamp, said cables provided with a turn-buckle and spring, sub- 'stan'tially as described.

17. In a tower, a central tube provided with a weight and with lamp-supporting arms, a cable engaged upon said arms connecting independent lamps with said weight, guide-cables to steady the lamp, casings depending from said arms to embrace the upper ends of said guide-cables, and the lamp-frame constructed to receive said casings, substantially as and in the manner described.

18. The combination, with a tower provided with lamp-supporting arms and a weight, of a lamp-frame, a cable connecting the lampframe with the weight, and devices to steady the lamp-frame when drawn up to the supporting-arms, said lamp-frame. perforated, as at q, to engage the steadying device, substantially as described.

19. In an electric tower, the combination, with a lamp-supporting arm, of arms R, supporting insulated pins R, substantially as described.

20. In a tower, a central tube having, in combination therewith, a head-casting, a lampsupporting arm engaged therewith, a lampsupporting cable engaged upon said arm, pulleys journaled upon said arm and in said casing to receive said cable, and a protectingcovering for said cable and pulleys, substantially as described.

21. In a tower, the combination, with a central'tube provided with a head-castin g, of per pendicular rods having a trussed engagement upon the central tube, and a recessed plate engaged upon said casting, said perpendicular rods engaged at their upper ends with said plate and casting, substantially as described.

22. In a tower, the combination, with a fixed arm, of a movable lamp supported thereon, said lamp and arm provided with circuit-closingdeviccs, and means to raise and lower the lamp, the circuit being open when the lamp is lowered and closed when raised into position, substantially as described.

23. In a tower, the combination, with a fixed arm, of a movable lamp supported thereon, said arm and lamp provided the one with a connecting-pin and the other with a spring to close the circuit when the lamp is raised into position, substantially as described.

24. In a tower, the combination of a central tube, a supporting-tripod, a cap a, uniting the upper ends of the legs of the tripod to the central tube, and a hub W, engaged 5 with said cap and having a screw-threaded engagement with said tube, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID MAXWELL. Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT,

CHARLES F. SALOW. 

